This inspiring memoir by Michael Simmons highlights his mother’s efforts to protect her children from her alcoholic, abusive husband. After a DWI results in him losing his job, Michael’s father moves his family from Arkansas to Missouri, where losing another job means the family moves to a small house in the Arkansas countryside. His mother takes on picking cotton to earn money for the children’s Christmas presents. Another job loss, another move: the stress and uncertainty in his family’s life creates insecurity and loneliness for Mike. He is finally befriended by a woman who takes him to church with her and introduces him to God.

The Blue House places Mike’s experiences alongside insightful commentary by Dr. Daniel Middlebrooks, who observes the life lessons Mike learns in a manner that guides readers to examine their own lives and find answers to their questions in scripture and self-reflection.